NEVER ALONE

Years ago, as we lay in bed preparing for sleep, my wife and I used to listen to a radio program called, “Night Sounds.” A wonderful man by the name of Bill Pearce hosted the program.

“Night Sounds” was a spiritually-based production which included wonderful old hymns, as well as a half-hour commentary about a new and different topic each night. From time to time Mr. Pearce informed his audience that he spoke “off the cuff,” and that he never referred to notes. However he managed to do it, he did it very well, and covered such subjects as divorce, anger, suicide, loneliness and forgiveness.

Years passed, and my wife and I lost track of the “Night Sounds” radio program. As a matter of fact, we stopped listening to the radio altogether. (It occurs to me that during my father’s generation radio was, without doubt, their major advocation).

At any rate, in the past several years I have discovered “Night Sounds” all over again. While the archival broadcast is still offered by hundreds of radio stations, it is also available as a 24/7/365 broadcast on the internet. Sadly, Bill Pearce left us in the past decade, and no one was selected to take his place behind the microphone. However, as I have already implied, the broadcast goes on, and the programs are changed out on a recurring basis.

One feature of the internet broadcast of this fine program is the capability of saving selected broadcasts to one’s computer. I have ‘saved’ dozens of them to an attachable hard drive, and often listen to them a second and a third time.

Pt. 2

As a matter of fact, tonight I delved into my personal archive of “Night Sounds” broadcasts, and selected one of my favorites. The title of this particular program is simply, “Abandoned.”

About half way through the broadcast, Mr. Pearce shared the following story with his listeners.

“I attended an outdoor concert some time ago, and was privileged to sing several solos. Another vocal artist, a young man, whose name I won’t mention, happened to share something with me prior to taking the stage. He said that he had received a phone call just before the concert began. His wife told him that she was leaving him, and taking their baby with her.

“After news of that kind, I don’t know how he managed to sing that night, but sing he did. And the song he sang by happenstance, or choice dealt with the subject of abandonment, and our Lord’s promise to come along side us in the most desperate of moments.

“A few weeks later I received a letter from this young man, and a tape of his song from that night. I’m going to play it for you tonight. Pay close attention to the words of this song.”

Well, Bill played the song, and I can tell you this unknown vocal artist did a wonderful job with his rendition. Since listening to the song, I attempted to find the lyrics on the internet, and brought up YouTube to see if it had been recorded by anyone. However, I was unable to find any trace of the song.

As a result, I finally sat down this evening, and transcribed the words. Of course, this required me to play the song again and again until I had committed the words to paper, and subsequently typed them out.

Following are the reassuring words of, “I Will Be There.” I hope they are a special encouragement to you.

I WILL BE THERE

Unknown Author

Where can you go that I can’t see

On the highest of mountains, in the heat of the desert

In the life-consuming deep, and lonely heart of life’s sea

Where can you hurt that I can’t feel

When you feel like you’re dying, need a shoulder for crying

Come to Me, I’m waiting here with open arms that can heal

I’ll be a Father to the fatherless, a faithful Friend when none are there

My heart of love is fathomless, and it reaches anywhere

I will be there through the long lonely nights never letting you go, I will hold you, I will love you with all my might

I will be there, I will be there, I will be there

I will be there, and I want you to know, I will never leave you alone, I’ll never let you go

I will be there, I will be there, I will be there

What can you feel that I can’t stand

Any burden you’re bearing, any sorrow you carry

Any heartache, any loneliness, or despair

What do you see that I can’t see

Even death was defeated, all the work was completed

I’ve prepared a special place in my heart just for you

I’ll be a husband to the husbandless, a faithful Friend when none are there

My heart of love is fathomless, and it reaches anywhere

I will be there through the long lonely nights never letting you go, I will hold you, I will love you with all my might

I will be there, I will be there, I will be there

I will be there, and I want you to know, I will never leave you alone, I’ll never let you go

I will be there, I will be there, I will be there

I will be there, and I want you to know, I will never leave you alone, I’ll never let you go

I will be there, I will be there, I will be there

blog by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright pending

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